Fat Injections May Provide Less Invasive Option for Nose Reshaping, ASPS Study Finds

NEW ORLEANS - There's good news for patients who are unhappy with the appearance of their nose, but prefer the needle over the knife. Fat grafting to the nose alone, or in combination with more traditional techniques, can lead to aesthetic improvement while providing a less invasive option to reshape the nose with minimal to no surgery, according to a new study being presented at the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) annual conference, Plastic Surgery The Meeting, October 26-30, in New Orleans.

"Fat grafting is usually a tool used in revision nose reshaping procedures on patients who were unhappy with the results of their initial procedure," said Eser Yuksel, MD, ASPS Member Surgeon and study lead author. "In this study, we utilized fat grafting solely or in combination for primary nose reshaping. We found that even when used with traditional nose reshaping techniques, fat grafting allows for minimized dissection and improved skin quality."

In the study, 59 patients underwent primary nose reshaping with fat grafting for nasal volume restoration and contour adjustment. Fat grafting was repeated one to three times, at different times, in various anatomical areas including the nasal tip, bridge, and base, as well as, the forehead for projection. Twelve nose reshaping patients had fat grafting alone, while 47 patients had combination fat grafting/traditional nose reshaping. Improvement was observed in those who had only fat grafting. However, fat grafting, by itself, is more effective when the defect is more planar or inherent to certain compartments, the authors note. Thirty-five of the patients who had combination fat grafting/traditional nose reshaping, saw significant improvement.

"Fat grafting alone may not be appropriate or the correct course of action for every nose reshaping patient," said Dr. Yuksel. "Volume shifts due to gravity may occur in some cases, though it can be avoided by using specific external splints in the early postoperative period."

The study, "Role of Fat Grafting in Primary Rhinoplasty," is being presented Sunday, October 28, 9:00 a.m., at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans.

Reporters can register to attend Plastic Surgery The Meeting, or arrange interviews by contacting ASPS Public Relations at (847) 228-9900, media@plasticsurgery.org or in New Orleans, October 26-30, at (504) 670-4242.